Guide for new users on how to install patches

Kristijonas on 11/1/2015 at 05:57

Hello, I would like to suggest making a single thread that would contain focused information with what unofficial patches/texture packs/sound packs/whatnot there are for each T1-3 game AND most importantly - with information on how exactly to install them. Especially on how to install multiple patches/packs for the same game.
For example there is now T3 unofficial patch, T3 gold, T3 textures pack and most probably some other fixes/packs too. Personally, even as a long time lurker at this forum AND someone who is working in IT, I think I would still encounter some difficulties in installing all them right.
My suggestion is: Let's make a sticky thread (which would be updated constantly) with listed all patches/packs for each T game, with instructions on how to install them correctly. For example, for someone wanting to update their T1 there could be many different methods:
1. Tfix only
2. Tfix + HD pack (with instructions on which to install first, what config files to tweak if necessary)
3. Thief Enhancement Pack 2.0 alpha + Tfix + HD pack? How does one go about installing all of them at once..?
4. I'm sure there are many smaller tweaks/mods as well that would be interesting to install along with the mainstream unofficial patches. How does a new-to-thief'er would do so?

I have come up with this idea because I have been following unofficial patches for T1-3 for... 5 years maybe? And I would really love it if new players to T series would also have easy access to this goodness.

So yeah, could we have an easy, updatable list of all patches/packs with installation instructions for those who want to install several of them?

Sorry for the long post and repeating myself!

nickie on 11/1/2015 at 08:59

We've been discussing a bit of a reorganisation of the Fan Mission forum and Thief Gen and one of the things we'll be doing is asking for volunteers to produce videos of the different installations. There are 2 videos already available showing how to install mods which you can find (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139559#Modding%20Instructions) here. But I agree that technical information does tend to be all over the place so we'll be looking to get it all together in one thread.

SlyFoxx on 11/1/2015 at 10:01

I've been here...well a LONG time and this sort of thing would be great for me too.

And as an aside...Happy Birthday Nickie.

See, I can spell it right..........if needs be

Kristijonas on 12/1/2015 at 07:46

Quote Posted by nickie

It would be extra great if there would be written instructions as well - it can be hard to keep the instructional videos rapidly updated with the ever-changing patches/mods.

Kristijonas on 13/1/2015 at 03:57

Actually, I am planning a replay for Thief 1 tomorrow. I even bought Sound Blaster ZXR sound card, decent IPS display and good speakers basically just for Thief series (to enjoy them with EAX) :cheeky:
Last time I played Thief series seriously was maybe 6 or 8 years ago. I tried installing all of the three games again through the years, with latest patches and with EAX enabled and really enjoyed it but hadn't replayed it yet or played much ( I haven't even finished Thief 1 once, I was like 12 years old when I played it! But I have finished T2, I think, and definitely finished T3).

So, could anyone write some short instructions on how to make the most of Thief patches/packs/mods ? Lore and plausibility are very important to me, so I would prefer only realistic stuff (no mood changing new textures). There's Tfix AND an enhancement pack. Is it possible/should I install them both? Should I add any sound/graphics mods? Thank you for any suggestions!

Also, am I missing out on any near-future updates to the TFix/newdark/enhancement pack by starting playing right now? Should I wait a little? I mean, I waited several years to play through T1-3, I can wait a bit more, surely ;)

nickie on 13/1/2015 at 09:51

I can't write any instructions but can tell you that TFix is an installer for the game and for the original patches that came out years ago - T2 skies and water, mesh and texture and the much more recent enhancement pack (plus whatever else you need to run the game). TFix has these patches already selected and you can just untick what you don't want. You can read about the old patches (http://thief.ttlg.mobi/media/patches/) here under User Patches.

If you read the blurb in the (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141621) EP thread it says: 'The ultimate goal is to replace all the old, low-quality objects and textures from Thief 1 and 2 with versions that have higher polygon counts and texture resolutions, while keeping as close to the originals as possible.'

I like the EP and think it does what it says. But if there's anything that you select that you don't like, just run TFix again and untick what you don't want. If you select the EP and want to see what difference there is without it, just rename it in your T1 folder. If you want a vanilla experience, untick everything.

I've never used any sound enhancements so can't comment on that. And I haven't used any other packs apart from the EP. As for installing other mods, I've already linked you to the videos which is all that's available at the moment. No written instructions yet. :)

voodoo47 on 13/1/2015 at 14:34

1) install just TFix for an oldschool look, and next to no hardware requirements. small enhancements available on the mod screen.
2) hdmod pretty much requires the game to be patched with TFix first (TFix is "hdmod aware" and includes some hdmod specific dml fixes).
3) you can drop EP2.crf right into your TFixed install and it will work properly, no matter whether hdmod is installed or not. this is actually recommended as hdmod does not include the enhanced EP2 objects.

Kristijonas on 13/1/2015 at 15:16

Thank you, good to hear they are all compatible! Do you like the looks of the game when all three packs are installed?

Any other tweaks/mods/sound enhancements?

voodoo47 on 13/1/2015 at 17:45

unsurprisingly, the TFix default is what I like the most.

pretty much all the mods were already mentioned, with the exception of the (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144312) NecroPack. it's a darker version of EP2.